Log haul chair



Aug. 24, 1965 c w s 3,202,267

LOG HAUL CHAIR Filed May 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENT'OR CHARLES H. WATTERS 46 fir ArroRNzY-s Aug. 24, 1965 c. H. WATTERS LOG HAUL CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1964 INVENTOR CHARLES H. WATTERS BY .7 A 11?? ATTflRNi fi United States Patent 3,202,267 LOG HAUL CHAR? Charles H. Waiters, 1895 W. ttth Ave, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,740 11 (liairns. ((31. 198-406) This invention relates to log haul chairs for endless chain conveyors for moving logs and other articles along a predetermined path.

In the hauling of logs and the like from a pond, the general practice is to employ a long link endless chain which is driven by a sprocket to run between spaced runners formed at the bottom of a V-shaped trough. Attached to the chain at intervals therealong are devices commonly called log haul chairs which are arranged to be slidably borne by the runners and which are arranged to grasp the log and haul it through the trough.

The above described method of removing logs from ponds is old and, in consequence, there have been many and varied improvements in the designing and construction of the chairs and dogs with which such conveyors are equipped. In general, most of the chairs are so arranged that they may be aifixed to a link of the chain in one way or another, while others may employ a means whereby the chair is secured between two similarly oriented links, the link between them either being removed or replaced with a specially constructed link.

It will be realized that during the operation of the conveyor, the weight of the logs and the vibration imparted to the chair as the chain is carried over the driving sprockets or drums, places undue stress upon the chair which results in the loosening, stretching and otherwise deforming the various components of the chairs by which they are connected to the chain.

Most chairs are so constructed that they offer very little, if any, resistance to tipping backwardly as the teeth, with which most are provided, dig into the log. It is therefore apparent, that where a log is of sutficient size that it creates excessive drag, the chair will frequently tip backwards permitting the teeth to release their grip on the log. This condition multiplies as the component parts get worn.

The present invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned objections by providing a log haul chair which may be secured to a conveyor chain as a link therein, and which is so secured that the vibration will have no effect and in which the weight of the log to be hauled serves both to strengthen various components of the chair and to prevent the chair from tipping backwardly as the teeth with which the chair is provided take hold against the surface of the log.

The present invention comprises a base, a pair of longitudinally spaced hooks rigidly connected to the base and oriented in the direction of the link to be replaced, said hooks having free ends extending towards each other and being adapted to engage the chain links adjacent to the first-mentioned link, a cap secured to the base, having a portion thereof, extending between the free ends of the hooks to thereby form a link-shaped enclosure, and means on the cap to grippingly engage the hook, to prevent spreading of the latter when a load is applied to the conveyor.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the chair so showing its connection to links in a chain,

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the log haul chair,

FIGURE 3 is an elevation partially in section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3,

3,202,267 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 FIGURE 5 is an end view of the log haul chair located in a trough, and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the log haul chair in the trough with one side of the trough removed.

Referring to the drawings, the log haul chair generally indicated with the numeral 10, is of two-part construction having a lower or base portion 12 by which the chair is secured to a conveyor chain and an upper portion 14 which is secured, in a manner hereinafter to be explained, to the lower portion 12 and which is designed to grip and carry the logs to be transported.

As in most chain-type conveyors, the links of the chain are alternately oriented at right angles to each other and are arranged, as indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, torun between a pair of transversely spaced wearing strips 16 aranged at the bottom of the side Walls 18 of a V-shaped trough 20 which is inclined upwardly from a pool in which the logs are floated to the site where it is intended to deposit the logs. The chain passes over a sprocket usually located at the upper end of the trough and over a drum at the lower end thereof, this construction not being shown in the drawings as it is standardized for all conveyors.

In most chain-type conveyors, the driving sprocket is usually arranged to rotate on a horizontal shaft and the links of the chain are alternately vertically and horizontally oriented, the vertically oriented links being grasped by the sprocket teeth. The log haul chair, in accordance with the present invention, is designed to replace one of the vertical links of the chain and to grasp a pair of horizontally oriented links, the latter being numbered 22, most clearly indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

The lower or base portion 12 of the log haul chair 1! in general comprises a pair of longitudinally elongated rectangularly shaped Wearing pads 24, each of which have a smooth undersurface 26. The upper surfaces of the wearing pads are formed so that each of them has a flat elongated central portion 27 terminating in substantially vertical fore 2,8 and after 29 shoulders extending transversely thereacross.

The wearing pads are held in spaced rigid parallel disposition, extending outwardly at their inner edges 33 from the upper ends 35 of a U-shaped connecting member 36, the latter having a bulky triangular cross section. The size of the connecting member 36 and wearing pads 24 are such that the wearing pads contact and rest upon the wearing strips 16 of the V-shaped trough 20, while the connecting member 36 depends freely downwardly therebetween. This is shown clearly in FlGURE 5 of the drawings.

Extending in fore and aft directions from the base of the connecting member 36, and cent-rally thereof, are a pair of vertically oriented opposed hooks 38, having their free ends 39 extending toward each other and spaced apart to provide an opening into whicht'he end sections of the horizontally oriented links 2 2 may be inserted to be drawn outwardly against the bight of the hooks. Extending upwardly from each of the free ends 39 of the hooks, are a pair of lugs 40. By referring to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the hooks resemble and are, in size and shape, curved end sections of a vertically oriented link. Due to the relatively heavy force exerted upon the lower or base portion 162 of the log haul chair, it is of necessity that the material of construction thereof must be either cast or forged steel, being of sufficient tensile strength to withstand the calculated working load .and that the wearing pads 24-, connecting member 36 and hooks 38, be cast or forged as one integral unit.

The upper portion 14 of the log haul chair It which is adapted to be secured to the lower or base portion 12,

comprises a thick rectangulanly shaped body portion 41 which extends in a fore and aft direction beyond the lugs li and in a transverse direction across the upper ends 35 of the U-shaped connecting member 36. The undersurrace 42 of the body portion 41 has a longitudinally extending lug-receiving recess 43 formed therein, said recess terminating at each end in substantially vertical walls 44, the latter being spaced apart sufiiciently so that when the upper portion 14 of the log haul chair it is placed over the lower portion 12 thereof, the lugs 40 will extend upwardly into the recess, each lug lying adjacent to a wall 44.

Extending transversely outwardly from the sides of the body portion 41 at the lower end thereof, are a pair of rectangularly shaped longitudinally elongated wings 45, each of which is adapted, when said upper portion 14 is fitted to the lower portion 12, to just fit within the central portion 27 thereof, the fore and aft ends 47 and 48 respectively, of said wings abutting the fore and aft shoulders 23 and 29 respectively, of the wearing pads 24.

The upper portion 14 is also provided at outer edges i) of the Wings 4-5 with spurs 52 projecting upwardly above the body portion 41 and forwardly therefrom. There may also be spurs 54 projecting upwardly from the body portion 41, said spurs 52 and 54 being adapted to engage the logs and other material to be carried by the chair.

It should be noted here that the upper portion 14 of the chair being divisible from the lower portion 12 permits both portions to be composed of similar varied steel alloys which may be selected to take advantage of those qualities of said alloys but suited to withstand the varied strain and wear common to this type of equipment.

In the assembly of the chair and in its connection to the chain, a vertically oriented link of the chain is first removed and the horizontally oriented links adjacent thereto are slipped through the space between the lugs 44) and into the ibight of each of the hooks. The upper portion 14 is then fitted over the lower portion 1 2, as hereinbefore described, and firmly secured to the latter by running a welding bead along all meeting edges of the parts.

It will be seen, there-fore, that the log haul chair will now constitute a vertical link in the chain and is so secured, as by welding, that vibration of the chair during its travel around the sprockets, drums and the like will not tend to loosen it. It will also be appreciated that when a strain is imposed upon the books 38 by the horizontally oriented links 22, the tendency of the former to spread will be resisted by the interaction of the walls 44 with'the lugs All.

Referring to FIGURE 6 which depicts the log haul chair travelling in the direction as shown by the arrow labelled D, a log or the like which is engaged by the spurs 52 and which has a tendency to drag on the side walls 18 of the trough, would ordinarily tend to tip the chair backwardly in a direction as shown by the arrow labelled B. However, due to the elongated wearing pads 24, the weight of the log resting .upon the log haul chair, as represented by the arrow labelled W, and acting around tht pivot furnished at the point of contact between the after end of the wearing pads and the wearing strips 16 will, due to the extraordinary length of moment arm provided :by the elongated wearing pads, overcomes the tendency of the chair to tip.

It will also .be seen that any longitudinal strain imposed upon the upper portion 14- of the chair is transterred by the wings 45, acting against the shoulders 29 V and oriented in the direction of the link to be replaced, said hooks having free ends extending towards each other and being adapted to engage the chain links adjacent to the first-mentioned link, a cap secured to the base, having a portion thereof extending between the free ends of the hooks to thereby form a link-shaped enclosure, and means on the cap to gr-ippingly engage the hook, to prevent spreading of the latter when a load is applied to the conveyor. i

2. In a log haul chain-link conveyors a log haul chair to replace a link in the chain comprising a base, a pair of longitudinally spaced hooks rigidly connected to the base and oriented in the direction of the link to be replaced, said hooks having free ends extending towards each other and being adapted to engage the chain links adjacent to the first-mentioned link, a lug extending laterally from the free end of each of the hooks, a cap secured to the base over the hooks, said cap having a longitudinally extending hook-receiving recess formed in an unders-urface thereof, and shoulders formed in the cap at each end of the recess being adapted to engage the lugs to thereby prevent spreading of the hooks when a load is applied to the conveyor.

3. Log haul chain-link conveyors as claimed in claim 2 including means on the cap to grippingly engage the log to be hauled.

4. Log haul chain-link conveyors as claimed in claim 3 in which said means comprises a plurality of toothlikeprojections biased towards the direction of movement of the chair.

5. In log haul chain-link conveyors having alternate vertically and, horizontally oriented links, a log haul chair to replace a vertically oriented link comprising a base, a pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced and vertically oriented hooks rigidly secured to the base, said hooks having free ends extending towards each other and being adapted to engage the horizontally oriented links adjacent to the vertically oriented hooks to be replaced, a cap secured to the base having a portion thereof extending between the free ends of the hooks to thereby form a link-shaped closure, and means on the cap to grippingly engage the hook, to prevent spreading of the latter when a load is applied to the conveyor.

6. In log haul chain-link conveyors having alternate vertically and, horizontally oriented links, a log haul chair to replace a vertically oriented link comprising a base, a pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced and vertically oriented hookslrigidly secured to the base, said hooks having free ends extending towards each other and being adapted to engage the horizontally oriented links adjacent ot the vertically oriented hooks to be replaced, a lug extending laterally from the free end of each of the hooks, a cap secured to the base over the hooks, said cap having a longitudinally extending hook-receiving recess formed in an undersurface thereof, and shoulders formed 'in the cap at each end of the recess being adapted to engage the lugs to thereby prevent spreading of the hooks when a load is applied to the conveyor. 7

7. A log haul chair for chain-link conveyors having alternate vertical and horizontally oriented links, the latter being arranged to travel centrally through a trough having spaced longitudinally extending runners comprising a base having a pair of transversely spaced longi tudinally elongated wearing pads to slidably engage the runners, a pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced vertically oriented hooks rigidly secured to the base between the wearing pads, said hooks having free ends extending towards each other and each being adapted to engage a horizontally oriented link adjacent to a vertically oriented link, the latter to be replaced by the chair, a lug extending laterally from the free end of each of the hooks, a cap secured to the base over the hooks, said cap having a longitudinally extending hook-receiving recess formed 'in an under-surface thereof, and shoulders formed in the cap at each end of the recess being adapted to engage the lugs to thereby prevent spreading of the hooks when a load is applied to the conveyor.

8. Log haul chain-like conveyors as claimed in claim 7 including seats formed in an upper surface of the wearing pads and seat-engaging portions formed on an undersurface of the cap, the latter arranged to fittingly project into the seats to thereby restrain relative longitudinal movement of one to the other.

9. Log haul chain-like conveyors as claimed in claim 7 including means in the cap to grippingly engage the 10 log to be hauled.

19. log haul chain-link conveyors as claimed in claim 5 7 in which the cap is Welded to the base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,910,170 10/59 Dodson l98176 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN LOG HAUL CHAIN-LINK CONVEYORS A LOG HAUL CHAIR TO REPLACE A LINK IN THE CHAIN COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED HOOKS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE BASE AND ORIENTED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LINK TO BE REPLACED, SAID HOOKS HAVING FREE ENDS EXTENDING TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE CHAIN LINKS ADJACENT TO THE FIRST-MENTIONED LINK, A CAP SECURED TO THE BASE, HAVING A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FREE ENDS OF THE HOOKS TO THEREBY FORM A LINK-SHAPED ENCLOSURE, AND MEANS ON THE CAP TO GRIPPINGLY ENGAGE THE HOOK, TO PREVENT SPREADING OF THE LATTER WHEN A LOAD IS APPLIED TO THE CONVEYOR. 